Feb 15, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has raised the ceiling and the interest rate of senior citizens' fixed deposits, the Finance Ministry said.

According to a Finance Ministry statement, the upper limit of Fixed Deposits will be raised to Rs. 1.5 million at an interest of 15 percent per annum, effective from March 01.

According to the Finance Ministry the present Government, under its 100-day program, in the Budget - 2015 for the first time introduced a 15% special interest scheme for senior citizensí fixed deposits up to one million rupees maintained by senior citizens over the age of 60 years.

Accordingly, the Government pays the difference between the 15 percent and the market standard interest rate offered by commercial banks.

Treasury has incurred Rs. 13 billion for this purpose in 2016. As a result of this offer to senior citizens, the number of fixed deposits by senior citizens rose to 450,000 in 2016 from 91,000 in 2015.

The number of fixed deposits maintained by senior citizens is reported to have risen today to 500,000 since the Minister Ravi Karunanayake announced the continuation of the senior citizens deposits scheme which guarantees an interest of 15 percent for deposits with the increase of the upper limit up to Rs 1.5 million.

Director General of Department of Development Finance said that with the increase of the upper limit, Treasury has to spend Rs.18 billion to pay the 15 percent interest during this year.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that this Government introduced various facilities to assist senior citizens after 2015 as the ageing population is on the increase in the island.

In addition to the 15 percent interest, which was introduced in the country for the first time in 2015, the benefit of Agrahara Insurance Scheme available for the public servants was extended up to 70 years for the benefit of those who are retiring from the public sector.

In the Budget 2017 the Minister Ravi Karunanayake announced the extension of the insurance cover for the full life time of the retiring public servants from this January.